22 Apr Things I’ve Learned in the Era of COVID-19, part 2

Like you, I am constantly processing news cycles, my own emotions and the daily ups and downs of what the world is like now.

Here are, I hope, some honest and helpful reflections, along with a dash of inspiration at the end:

1.) Trials are as revelational as they are formational.

That is to say, they show us who we are as much as they make us who they are.

And when the sweetness of our circumstances is taken away, what we look to for sustenance is telling.

Years ago at a ministry conference I was attending, I heard an older pastor (whom a lot of the people in the room seemed to know, but I had never heard of) get up and speak, and something he said I have never forgotten. I don’t know who he was, what his topic was, or anything else, but I do remember his words:

“Demand meaning from every experience.”

I think what he meant was this: if we fail to ask, what am I learning and becoming because of what I’m going through?, we won’t get what God has for us.

And, if we will stop and look inside for a moment in the middle of our trial, we will often find, to our shock, that

2.) Our main enemies lie within.

Years ago, my wife and I were gazing with pity upon one of our children, at the time aged 3ish. He was inexplicably upset and every attempt to soothe him only made it worse. Carrie looked at him and said something to the effect of, “If it’s this bad on the outside, imagine what it’s like on the inside!” To which I replied, channeling that old horror movie poster trope: “Ah, yes, it comes from within.”

Catherine of Genoa was a 15th century Italian thinker and writer who lived and worked among the poor in Italy. She possessed keen and penetrating psychological insight, and wrote this:

“Our self-will is so subtle and so deeply rooted within our own selves and defends itself with so many reasons, that when we try to fight against it, we manage to lose in the end. We end up doing our own will under many covers–of charity, of necessity, or of justice. But God’s love wills to stand naked and without any cover since it has nothing to hide.” –Life and Teachings

Therefore,

3.) To make it, and to break through, we need space and time in the Presence of God.

You may know the story of Brother Lawrence (no, not that guy from the church you grew up in!).

Brother Lawrence was a humble French monk responsible for much of the menial work in the kitchen of his monastery. He called himself “a servant of the servants of God”, and found, with a little practice, he could transform any moment, anywhere, anytime, into a moment of encounter with the love of God, which changed him and freed him. And, he wrote a little book about it which has since become a classic: Practicing the Presence of God.

I want to tell you, what he found for himself is possible for us. 

Every day, you and I need to wake up and rediscover God’s faithfulness. Open your Bible, go to God in prayer, buy a great devotional book, wash the dishes and sing!

If we will do this, we will find that:

4.) To be a Christian is to be able to overcome the world.

John the Apostle wrote this: “Everyone who is born of God overcomes the world.”– I John 5:4

You and I are overcomers! That does not mean we aren’t “temporary strugglers”, or “never face any-kind-of-problem people”. It simply means that, because of the new birth, we have the kind of seed within us that is able to weather the storm, the winter, the cold, and the drought, and in the end, overcome it all.

Of all people, then, Christians should have hope!

As my friend, Dr. Rice Broocks says, “Atheism doesn’t take away the pain.  It only takes away the hope.”

5.) Mosaic Church is a dealer in hope.

To be able to meet the needs of not only our church community but civic community, we have launched three things:

        A.Our Covid-19 Fund: With the Austin coronavirus peak 1-2 weeks away, we have begun receiving funds to be able to meet financial needs as they come in, which they already have. These funds go towards paying rent, food, and medical bills of those affected. The longer this goes on, the more these needs have begun to increase. Thank you for enabling us to say “yes” to those who have, and who will ask. You are welcome to give to that here.

        B. Our Mosaic Distribution Center 

On Wednesdays from 6-8 pm and Saturdays from 10-noon, our Distribution Center is open to receive household goods.

We have, and we need: Dry foods and canned goods; household supplies, cooking supplies and paper products, especially. We sanitize and store what is brought in, and supplies are available for anyone in the community who has a need, including you. All you need to do, either to give or to receive, is simply come by during those times!

        C. Street Ministry and Food for Live Oak Elementary families continues…

…Thanks to your generosity and our amazing team members.

Much love to you as we gather this weekend for Week 2 of “What’s After ATX”, where we look at life after death through the lens of Near Death Experiences. We will be looking at, specifically, Relationships in Heaven.

“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” 

― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Much love,

Morgan

P.S. Our prayer call is, as it is every Friday, at noon. Please join us! You can call in at

+1 929-399-7568
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P.P.S. If you really need an hour to kill on your 14th walk around your neighborhood, you could consider listening to our “Tuesdays are For Talking” podcast from yesterday (you can find it wherever you listen to podcasts or for Apple podcast head here, and Google Podcast head here). I get interviewed about a range of subjects, including my all-time playlist, the time I had a literal rock-star moment, my thoughts on multi-ethnic church, and most importantly, I settle once and for all the question: “Who is the better athlete: me, or Pastor Brett?” (Here’s a hint: it’s not me!)